5 March 2025
Research Shows That Play is Vital for Children's Development
How are children affected by a lack of play? And how can we create better play environments for everyone? These were the key questions in the international research project P4PLAY, which, over four years, explored the significance of play and developed guidelines for more inclusive outdoor play environments. The results could reshape the schoolyards and playgrounds of the future.
The project received €2.2 million in funding from the EU’s research program to develop a sustainable doctoral education in occupational therapy and occupational science, aiming to drive innovative research and practice. Eight doctoral students were trained, four of whom were based at Luleå University of Technology, and their research has led to concrete initiatives to improve children's opportunities for play.
New Research Leads to Change
Among the project's most important results are the development of new guidelines for outdoor play, assessment tools to evaluate play environments, and insights into how schools and communities can create more inclusive play spaces for children with diverse needs. Special attention has been given to amplifying the voices of children who are rarely heard in discussions about urban planning and schoolyard design.
The EU’s final report on the project is enthusiastic, stating that P4PLAY has delivered "exceptional results with significant immediate impact." The insights developed by the researchers now serve as a platform for future research, policy development, and guidelines for everyone from urban planners to parents.
Scientific Results and Engagement
Beyond scientific results, P4PLAY has also reached a broad audience outside academia. The project has published 16 scientific articles and 14 popular science publications, and it has reached over 80,000 people and government agencies through social media and other communication channels.
Given the extensive outreach and the concrete initiatives already being implemented, it is clear that P4PLAY has put crucial issues on the agenda. How we create better conditions for children's play is not just a question for researchers and policymakers—it concerns society as a whole.
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